The performances of David Silva and Santi Cazorla could go a long way to deciding the winners of Sunday’s crunch clash at the Etihad.
The Spanish playmakers have both been Spanish internationals for the last four seasons as well as being first-team regulars for their clubs in either La Liga or the Premier League. The pair both hold impressive goals and assists tallies when compared with the amount of games they’ve played.
Silva narrowly edges it with 22 goals and 36 assists in 110 league games spread across the last four seasons. That gives him a ratio of a goal or assist every 0.52 games; slightly better than a goal every two games.
Over the same period of time, Cazorla has played 118 times in the league, scoring 28 goals and assisting 24 for teammates. His ratio is 0.44, which means his stands at just under a goal every two games.
That is still impressive when you consider both players statistically chip in with a goal or assist every three games at least.
From these ratio’s, an estimation can also be made on how many combined goals and assists both players could reach this season. At the current rate they’re going and if they were to stay fit and play every league game, Silva’s estimation would be a total of 20 goals and assists combined, with Cazorla’s at 17. That really shows that there isn’t much between the players when you analyse the impact they have for their sides.
So from those stats, the only real conclusion that can be drawn is that should both play on Sunday as expected, both should create plenty chances and with Cazorla’s goal tally slightly better than his assists, maybe he’ll fancy a goal. It’s also worth remembering Silva scored the only goal in this fixture last season to give Manchester city all three points.
Here are some interesting Manchester City and Arsenal head-to-head stats.
-Manchester City definitely benefit from being at home when they play Arsenal, as they’ve scored in 8 out of their last 10 home league fixtures against them. Compare to that to just four games, four goals and no wins in their last 10 away league fixtures to Arsenal. Their last goal was scored by DaMarcus Beasley at the Emirates in April 2007.
-Arsenal’s last three league victories at the Etihad have seen them score three goals, in 2006, 2008 and 2010. Incidentally; every two years, a run which could be extended if they win on Sunday.
– Over the last five seasons, there has been a total of 15 goals in the league fixtures between the sides at the Etihad. At the Emirates, there has been a total of four goals (All for Arsenal) in the league fixtures between the sides. The neutrals are probably grateful that City are at home in this one!
If I had to predict the outcome of this game, I would say a score-draw. Both teams are unbeaten so far in the league, Arsenal’s defence has been stronger but City have home advantage. I fancy both teams to score with the quality they possess. I predict 2-2.
Twitter: @Shteeeeeve
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